Marquette recruit Henry Ellenson is averaging a solid double-double this season for Rice Lake, Wis. Photo by USA Basketball.
This is a part of a regular series on prospective American Family Insurance ALL-USA basketball players. Henry Ellenson, a 6-10, 225-pound senior power forward from Rice Lake, Wis., played on USA Basketball’s National Team this past summer that won the FIBA U17 World Championship and was a member of the American Family Insurance ALL-USA preseason boys basketball team.
Recruit ranking: Listed as the No. 4 player overall in the 2015 class by ESPN.
Style of play: There are no fundamental holes in his game and he’s a strong rebounder. He’s also athletic enough to finish in traffic and has a solid outside shot, shooting 5-for-7 from three-point range this season.
Last season: He averaged 26.8 points a game as a junior and led his team to a state runner-up finish in the Wisconsin Division 2 State Tournament.
This season: Is averaging 29.6 points and 15 rebounds a game through 11 games. He had his 18th birthday on Tuesday.
Big games: Opened the season with a 48-point, 15-rebound effort in a 92-81 loss to Minnetonka, Minn., in the Breakdown Tip-off Classic in Minnetonka, on Dec. 6. He had 40 points in a 73-57 win at New Richmond on Dec. 23. He had 39 points and 18 rebounds in a 75-71 loss to Champlin Park (Champlin, Minn.) on Saturday.
Compared to a pro: Dirk Nowitzki, for his ability to pound it inside or run the court like a point forward.
They said it: “You can’t find too many big men in the country who can handle it, shoot it, post up, rebound on both ends. He’s got the whole package” – Playground Elite coach Duane Wilson told CBS Sports.
Headed to: He has signed with Marquette, where his brother Wally is a 6-6 junior guard who is sitting out this season after transferring from Minnesota. Henry is the school’s highest-ranked recruit since Doc Rivers. Ellenson committed to Marquette over Kentucky and Michigan State.
Basketball in the blood: His father John played at Wisconsin, his mother Holly at Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Another older brother, Ellwood, played at Bemidji State.
